Women’s Health Center of Excellence Update
January/February 2002, Issue 38
Breastfeeding
Classes
Do you have questions about breastfeeding? Join
us for our January breastfeeding class and get your questions answered by a
Certified Lactation Consultant. Participants will receive Breastfeeding: A Parent’s Guide. Classes will be held on Tuesdays in January
(7, 14, 21, 28),
For
Breastfeeding Moms
Are you breastfeeding or planning to, and
need a reasonably priced breast pump? The
Women’s
Graylyn Conference
of Women’s Health: The Role of Physical Activity in Women’s Bone Health
The Women’s
6th Annual Excellence Triathlon
Mark your calendars for this race, scheduled for
Research Workshops a Big Success!
The Women’s
Women’s
Health Research Seminar Series
February 4 – “Update on a Pilot Grant Recipient:
Attenuation of Human Breast Cancer Cell Growth by Angiotensin-(1-7),”
presented by Ann Tallant, Ph.D., Associate Professor,
Hypertension and Vascular Disease Center/ General Surgery, WFUBMC.
March 4 – “Factors Influencing Physical Activity in
Women of Color,” presented by Sara Wilcox, Ph.D., Assistant Professor,
Department of Exercise Science, Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health,
University of South Carolina, Columbia.
April 1 – “Measuring Quality of Care From Women’s
Perspective,” presented by Carol Weisman, Ph.D., Professor, Department of
Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health.
Research Program
seminars are held at
Feature
Article
January is
National Cervical Cancer Awareness month.
Turn over to learn more about this preventable disease.
What Is Cervical Cancer?
Cervical
cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of
the cervix. Before cancer appears in the cervix, the cells
go through changes known as dysplasia, in which abnormal cells appear in the
cervical tissue.
Later, cancer cells start to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and
surrounding areas. Recent studies suggest that women with a family history of
cervical cancer are more likely to develop the disease, themselves. The prognosis
is better if the cancer is detected early through yearly check-ups.
What Are the Risk
Factors for Cervical Cancer?
Human
papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the primary risk factor.
However, not all women with HPV infection develop cervical cancer.
·
A diet lacking in Vitamins A and C ·
Using oral contraceptives ·
Weakened immune
system ·
History of Chlamydia infection ·
Low socioeconomic status
Other
possible risk factors include:
·
Giving birth to many children
·
Having many sexual partners
·
Having first sexual intercourse before 16
·
Smoking
How Is Cervical Cancer
Diagnosed?
If
abnormal cells are detected on a Pap test, or if anything unusual is felt or
seen during an examination, the doctor may perform a colposcopy.
During this procedure, the doctor looks at the walls of the vagina and cervix.
If a suspicious area is found, the doctor may do a biopsy, where a small piece
of the suspect tissue is cut out and sent to a laboratory to determine if
cancer is present.
Signs and Symptoms of
Cervical Cancer
A
woman usually develops symptoms when the cancer has become invasive. Symptoms
include:
·
Unusual discharge from the vagina
·
Bleeding following intercourse
·
Pain during intercourse
However, all of these symptoms can be caused by
things other than cervical cancer.
Three types of
standard treatments are used:
·
Surgery – There are various procedures to
remove or destroy cancerous tissue.
· Radiation therapy -
X-rays
or other types of radiation are used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
· Chemotherapy - May
be taken by mouth or through IV.
Information for this article was provided
by the National Cancer Institute and the
American Cancer Society.
To
learn more about cervical cancer and other diseases and health issues that
affect women and what you can do to prevent them, visit the Women’s
